FORCED LANDING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 209, 18 August 1927, Page 5

FORCED LANDING

BRITISH ARMY ’PLANE PRACTICE FLIGHT AT SHANGHAI. CHINESE OBSTRUCTION. (British Official Wireless), (Received 18, 11.30 a.m.) Rugby, Aug. 17. A British army aeroplane during a practise flight at Shanghai yesterday made a forced landing on the international racecourse a lew miles from Shanghai owing to engine trouble. The fuselage was removed but Chinese troops quartered there’obstructed the removal of the icings of the ’plane. The British have lodged a protest with the higher Chinese military authorities. Representatives of commercial concerns with interests in Yangtse ports, in company with British officials are proceeding shortly to Changsha, Ichang, Chungking, and other centres up river to enquire into the conditions prevailing in those localities. WARNING HAS NO EFFECT. GENERAL DUNCAN ORDERS POSTS TO BE OCCt’PIED. (Received 18, 10.40 a.m.Shanghai, Aug. 17. The detention by the Chinese of a British military aeroplane which was forced to land in Chinese territory, was the subject of negotiations which were reported yesterday to be proceeding between the British Consul and the Chinese Commissioner for Foreign Affairs,

No satisfactory conclusion was ’•cached and the Consult departed, warning the Commissioner that unless the aeroplane’s-wings were released by 11 o’clock this morning steps would be taken of a retaliatory nature in order to secure satisfaction.

An official statement issued says that at the time stated no such instructions had been issued by the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs. The General Officer Commanding the North China Command, General Duncan, therefore ordered posts south ol the Hangchow railway and south of the Soochow creek to be occupied as from two o’clock this afternoon, anil at four o’clock the railway will be cut at the level crossing immediate!} south of Soochow creek, which orders are being carried out. This point of the railway is adjacent to a large British encampment which has been picketed since the earliest arrival of the Shanghai defence force. It is a strategic point in local military communications. and an open railway along this line is vital in the present' military crisis developing in Shanghai.—(A. and N.Z.) i